eidmann



' F. L. FIDMANN.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED FFB. 28. Luna.

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Patented .lune 10, 1919.

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ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2s. |918.

Patonted J une 10, i919 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. L. EIDIVIANN.

ELEVATING T RUCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2 8. IIIIIs.

,Patented une 10, 1919.

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FRANK L'EIDMANN, or HoLYoxE, mssAcHUsETTs, nssIeNoR To HERBERT W. coWAN, J; LEWIS WYCKOFF, AND EDWARD N.` WHITE, TRUSTEES, ALI. 0F HoLYoxE, MASSACHUSETTS, DOING BUSINESS As coWAN TRUCK comRANY.

ELEVATING-TRUCK.

' specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jun@ w, w19,

Application led February 28, 19Cl8. Serial No. 219,558.

i To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK L. EIDMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holyoke, county of Hampden, and VState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevatingof which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates to elevating trucks, and particularly to elevating trucks of the type in which a stepy-step jack is arranged between the elevating support and the truck base in such manner that the jack may be connected to the steerin and draft handle of the truck and utilize to effect a step-bystep elevation of the platform, or other load support, upon the base through oscillation ofthe truck handle.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanically-operated step-by-step jack for use in trucks of the aforementioned type and particularly so to incorporate this improved jack in al truck of the aforementioned type that the bulk of the truck will not be in any way increased, that the jack vmay be operated easily in all positions of the elevating support and that it will transmit tosaid support substantially all of the power exerted upon the truck handle for a stroke of any length within the limits of movement provided.

An important feature of the invention is the construction of the jack and its suspen-A sion 1n such manner that the power may be transmitted to the jack endwise thereof and in the line of extension.

Another important feature of the invention is the novel jack construction in which effective gripping and retaining means are arranged to operate for a stroke' of any length within the range of movement of the jack operating means. Still another important feature of the invention is thel novel means forreleasi'ng' the elevating support when it is' desired to cause it to descend to its lowered position'.

connection with the in which- Other objects and important .featuresof the invention will appear from the following description and claims when consideredin accompanying drawings,

steering handle being shown 1n section;

Fig. 2 Vis a side elevation of the truck shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged Section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; i Fig. 4 is a detail,- lan of the releasing treadle and its immediate connections;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; f

Fig. 6 is a horizontal longitudinal section through the jack mechanism of the truck;

Figwja is a detail side eleva-tion of the forvard engl of the jack;

Fi Sis a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.; gang Fig. 9 is a detail yview showing theconnections from the elevating. support or platform to the jack release to prevent overex.

front of the truck base 2.

The elevating support or platform 18, which, as shown, is preferably formed as an open frame with laterally extending wheel guards 20 at its rear end, is provided upon its underside with downwardly facing inclines 22 arranged to coperate with upwardly facing 'inclines 24 upon the base 2, the coperating inclines being so arranged that when the vsupport o r platform 18 is moved toward the rear of the'- truck, the cooperating inclines will cause the platform to e elevated while maintaining it in substantial parallelism to the base.` Any4 other suitable means for eecting the elevation of the platform upon the base may be employed. The means for effecting the rearward movement of the support or platform 184 upon the base 2 to cause the elevation of the platform upon the base, through the action of the coperating inclines 22 and 24, comrises a laterally rigid rectilinearly extensile mechanical )f4- operated ljack arranged 'lengthwise of the truckand having its relatively extensible parts pivotally connected respectively to the base'and to the platform,

the jack being wholly supported by its pivotal connections, somewhat 4after the manL ner'of the jack described `and claimed in United States Hitters Patent #1,201,180 granted October 10,A 1916. The lllustrated Jack comprises a supportingframe made up of lateral straps 26, havin at their forwar ends trunnions 28 receive in bearings 30 in the base portion 32of the bracket or crosspiece 16. -At their other ends the straps 26 are connected to the cylindrlcal outer casing 34 of the retaining means of the jack, the rod 36 of the jack sliding axially through this casing, and beingpivotally lconnected at 38 'to `ears on the underside of the supportor latform 18'. f

he trunnions 28 have elongated base portions 40 received in slots 42 ofaV cylindrical slide 44, carrying the lifting or post advancing means of the jack. This lifting means comprises gripping members 46 having conlcal outer surfaces and shaped upon their inner surfaces to t the rod 36, these members being received in a corresponding conicallyshaped opening in the slide 44, whereby when theyare moved toward the small end of said opening they tend to wedge against the rod 36 and grip the rod, this wedglng movement being in a direction to cause the rod to travel with the slide 44 when the slide l lis moved toward the right 'in each of the figures in the drawings. vA spring 48 bearing at one end against a washer 50, abuttlng against the ends of the gripping members 46 v and at its other end against a yoke 52 s an ning the Open end of the slide 44, ten s to force the members 46 into gripping engagementwith the rod 36. A

The` retaining means for holding the jack in extended position comprises gripping members 54 shaped like the gripping members 46 and received infa correspondingly shaped recess in the cylindricalcasing 34, the members 54 being normally forced into gripping engagement with the rod 36 by a spring 56 bearin at one end against a washer 58 and at lts other end against a retaining yoke 60 spanning the open end of the casin l seen that movement of the. rod

It will to the right tends to move the grippingmembers 54toward the larger end of the recess in which they are located, and thus to release them from gripping engagement with the rod, but that any tendency of the rod to move toward the left will be resisted because of the movement ofthe members 54 toward the smaller end of the recess in which they are located. j

, 1n order to effect the reciprocation of the slide 44 and thus effect the extension of the jack, means is provided for conectingthis slide to the steerin handle 62 of the truck.

The'steering hand e 62 is provided with a "2' L 1,306,417 L A,

thus swinglin a" vertical plane upon the ing lever 68 fulcrumed upon a horizontal -shaft 70 in the bracket 16, the lever 681having a long arm above the shaft 70 and a short arm depending below the shaft 70, the short arm being connected by a link 72 to a cap 74 threaded upon the forwardY end of the slide 66, the link 72 being received between the ,ears 7 6 upon said cap. At its upper end the lever 68 is provided with a llnk 8 by whichit may be connected'to the steeri' ing handle '62 when saidhandle is in substantially upright position, the link 78 be ing forked .at its forward end so that it may'- embrace the steeringhandle 62, and each Qf the forked members being provided with a notch 8O adapted to receive a pin or lug 82 u on the side of the handle 62 when the hand e is in such position that its ypivot 65 is substantially parallel to the shaft 70. VTo

facilitate the connection ofthe handle 62 with the jack,-when it is desired to operate 1 the jack, each of the forked members of the link 78 has an inclined forward end 84 adapted to ride upon the pin 82 when the link 78 is resting upon the supporting lug 86 on the lever 68, and the pins 82 are moved into enga ement with the forward ends 84 of the for ed members ofthe links 78. A second lug 88, upon the lever 68, is adapted to engage a stop 90 on the bracket 16 and limit the rearward movement of the long -arm of the lever .68 about its fulcrum 70. It will be noted that the pins 82 are Vlocated comparatively. near thev pivot 65 of the Steering handle 62, thus making the steerin handle a multiplying lever of the .second class, and that the power thus multiplied by-the steering handle is transmitted to the slide 44 through a second multiplyin lever 5 of the first class, namel the lever 68" av'ing a long-upper arm an a short lower arm. It will further be noted that this' multiplyinglever system is so arran ed that it does not increase materially any imension of the truck and that it does not Ainterfere in any way with the arrangement and movement of `the elevating support orplatform 18 upon the truck base, vor-with the manipulation of :the truck when the steering handle is disconnected from the elevating mechanism to steer the truck.

The mechanism for releasing the jack to permit the slcilpport or platform 18 to return to its lowere position when it has been elevated 4will .now be described: Carried upon the side straps 26 of the jack frame are two pins or studs 92, projecting into aslot 94 in the slide 44 and so located in the path of the lbracket* 16. The steering handle can mOvement of thev gripping members 46'ofthe "of th slide 44 is moved into its retracted position, the studs 92will engage the washers 96 and 5 illustrated means comprises pins or studsl 498 carried u on arms 100 rising straps 26 and when the roc lifting clutch, or rather in the path of movement of washers 96 bearing against the ends ese gripping members that when the push the members 46 out of grip in or clutchin relation to the rod 36. p g

In or er to release the retaining means, treadle-controlled means is provided for pushing the gripping members 54 out of clutching relation to the shaft 36. The

from the -shaft 102 having its bearings ears upon the straps 26. project throu h slots vin the ends of a roc in depending These studs 98 rocked to move these studs toward the right in a manner hereinafter to be described, the studs are adapted to' engage a washer 104 bearing against a sleeve 106 surrounding the rod 36 and arranged to slide through A the casing 34, this sleeve at its 'other end plng members 54.

bearing against the second-washer 108, which abuts against the smaller ends of the grip-y One ofthe studs 98 is extended through its -arm 100 and receives upon this extension a link 110 connected to an arm 111 upon a second rock shaft 112 adapted to b e rocked through connections to a treadle 114. The treadle 114 is mounted upon one arm of the 'bell-crank lever, fulcrumed at 116 on the bracket 16, and the other arm of this vbellcrank is connected by a link 118 to a second arm 120 Ion the rock shaft 112. A spring l122 bearing against a pin upon the link 118 at one end and agalnst a washer 124 abutting against ears on the cross-piece 32 maintains said treadle in its uppermost position.

Depression of the 'treadle by the foot ofl p the operator moves the studs 98'to disengage the retaining means in the manner hereinabove descrlbed.

In order to prevent over-extension of theY jack, which might carry the inclines 22 beyond the inclines 24, means isprovided for lautomatically releasing the retaining means when the lifting or rod advancing means tends to carry the support or platform 18' nected at one end to the extension ofthe stud 98, to which the link 110 is connected. This link passes through an eye 128 depending from the underside of the support or platform 18, and Ais threaded beyond said eye to receive a pair of nuts 130 forming an adjustable stop. As shown in Fig. l9 of the drawings, when the platform is inA its lowered position the stop 130 is spaced from the eye 128, but as the platform is moved toward the right to effect its elevation, 128 slides over the link or rod 126 until it engages the stop 130 Vwhen further moveshaft 102 isv e stantial para the eye ment of' the platform toward the right will of the shaft 102 and the cause the rockin the retaining clutch memconnections between said support and said retaining means operating to release. said means when said Jack tends to move said support beyond a predetermined point.

In apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a wheeled truck base and an elevating support arranged for combmed longitudinal and up and down movements of ap roach and separation in sublelism, and rectilinearly separable jack members respectively pivotally connected to'said aforementioned separable parts, whereby said jack may swing bodily during the movements of approach and separation of said parts, of moving and retaining means associated with the separable jack members, and means mounted upon one of the first mentioned members and having operative connection with said retaining means in any swinging position of said jack for releasing said retalmn means.

3. In an elevating truck, the com' ination of va base and an elevating platform, of means for elevating said platform comprising a jack having telescoping members pivf means for e ecting'the extension of said the elevating operation,

jack comprising a carrier arranged to re- Y ciprocate upon one of said telescoping members and carrying means for gripping thel other member during its movement in one' direction, means for retaining said jack in extended posltlon, and means mounted upon .said base and operable in any angular posifor releaslng sald retaintion of said jack ing means. 4

`4. In an elevating truck, the combination with a truck base and an elevating support,

of telescoping jack members extending lengthwise of the truck .and pivotally con nected respectively to said base and to said support, and mechanical means for effecting the extension of said jack to elevate said support on said base, comprising lifting means arranged to reciprocate on one jac member and to engage and move the other relatively thereto, and retaining means also carried by the first mentioned jack member, both of said meansbeing located between saidpivotal connections.

5. In an elevating truck, the .combinationA with a truck base and an elevating support,

' lengthwise of the of telescoping jck members extending l ruck, pivotally connecte res ectively to the base and to the sipport and) arranged to telescope between sai pivotal connections, and means for ei'ecting the `extension of said jack, comprising a reciprocating lifting clutch having the'limits of its reciprocating movement between said pivotal connections, and a retaining clutch also operating between said pivotal connectionsu 6. In an elevating truck, the combination c mprisin a Jack post having a pivotal conwith a truck base and an elevating support, of rectilinearly relatively movable jack members, pivotallyconnected respectively to -said base and to said support, said jack ex tending lengthwise of said .truck and telescopingbetween said ivotal connections, a Jack extending clutc reciprocating on one member between said pivotal connections .and arranged to engage and move' the other member, clutch reci rocating means extending across one of said pivots, and av trucli:l handle arranged to be connected to said last mentionedl means.

withv the truck base and an elevating su port,of telescoping 'ack members pivotal y.

e y to said base and to, said support, said Jack being arranged 80 connected i respectiv lengthwise of said truck and have its pivotal connection to the base at, the forward n end thereof a jack extending clutch and a retaining clutch located between said piv-V otal connections, and a reci rocating -car'- rier -for said extending clutc arranged to operate in the line of extension of said jack and projecting beyond the forward end of said ack. l

8. an elevating truck, the'combinaton with the truck base and an elevating support, of .telescoping jack members pivotally connected respectively to said base and to said support, said jack .beingI arran ed lengthwise of said truck and having its pivotal connection to the base at the forward end thereof, a jack extending lclutch and a retaining clutch located between said-pivotal connections, and a'reci rocating carrier for said extending. clutc arranged to operate in the line of extension of said ack Y and projecting beyond the forward en of v port,- said jack extending lengthwise of said truck and coi'nprisinV a jack post connected tothe platform, an *a jack base provided with trunnions having bearings on saidi pivots.

truck base, afpost retaining clutch carried.

by said jack base, a post advancing clutch and a carrier therefor arranged to reciprocate between said trunnions in the line of extension of said jack.

10. An elevatin truck having', in combination, a wheeled ase, a steering and draft handle associated with one of the Awheels of saidbase., an elevating su port and means for elevating said support', including a jack arranged lengthwise of the truckz said ack nection with said support and a jack base,

into which said post telescopes, having a pivotal connection with the truck base a post retainingl clutch and a post advancin clutch operating upon said post between sai pivotal connections, means extending across one of said pivots and reciprocating in the line of extension ofthe jack for operating said post advancing clutch, means normally tendin to enga e l'said clutches and means carrie by said ase for simultaneously rean elevating truck, the. combination i retaining clutch carried y said base, a post advancing clutch and a carrier therefor guided in and reciplrocatinglengthwise of said jack base in t e line of extension of said jack,`a steering and draft handle for the truck and connections between said han- Vlle 'and said clutch carrier, comprising a link. ivotally connected' to said carrier in proximity to one of the'jack supporting 12.In an elevating truck, an elevating jack ada ted tobe arranged lengthwise o said truc said jack comprising a telescop'v ing base and post, triinnions on vsaid base adapted to support said jack for bodily Swingin movement, a post retaining clutch moun f on. said. base, Aa p ost -advancin clutch and a carrier therefor guided by an reciprocating centrally of sai base and coaxially with vsaid post, a'nd operating con- -nectioiis tosaid carrier in proximity to said trunnion axis, whereb said connections are not materially distur ed by the swinging movementv of said jack.V f

Signed at Holyoke, Massachusetts, this 15th day of February, 1918.

FRANK L. EIDMANN.

Witnesses:

Giio'ncii F. JiiNirs,

GEORGE E. 

